Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
FTELD OF INVENTION
The invention is in the field of dryers for drying
clothing, sporting and athletic equipment. The drying is
achieved by circulating heated air in an enclosed chamber
accommodating the articles to be dried.
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
Wet outdoor garments, sport clothing and equipment have
in the past been stored in garages, back rooms and basements
~y where they would eventually dry due to natural air circulation.
'r l0 The natural air circulation is not conducive to rapid drying of
articles. The damp articles, such as clothing, will mildew and
have unpleasant odors when stored without adequate drying. Cloth
drying machines having housings with drying chambers have been
used for drying clothes. These machines have heating elements
and fans for circulating hot air within the drying chambers to
dry the clothes placed in the drying chambers. An example of
this type of drying machine is shown by C.J. Liang in U.S. Patent
!i~ ~ No. 5, 152, 077. The machine has a housing having a drying chamber
.,, ,
for accommodating clothes. Heated air moving through the drying
~s'~ 20 chamber carries moisture out of the drying chamber into a
condensing compartment where moisture is condensed into water and
then delivered to an evaporating apparatus and converted into
steam. The steam is dried by an electric heater and moved back
r~,~ into the drying chamber. An ultraviolet light is located within
the drying chamber 'for sterilizing the clothes in the drying
chamber. Other machines having drying chambers for accommodating
heated air for drying clothing are disclosed by A. Irving in U. S.
~'r
Patent No. 4,582,424 and J.W. McCormick in U.S. Patent No.
_ 2 _
1,755,013.
sUMMARY OF INVENTION
The invention is directed to a self-contained dryer
having an internal chamber for accommodating articles, such as
clothing, sporting equipment, hockey gear, shoes and other
objects. The dryer has a housing enclosing a drying chamber in
which the articles are dried and stored. Doors attached to the
housing permit access to tine interior of the chamber. Heated air
is directed with a first fan into the drying chamber
simultaneously with the discharge of air from the drying chamber
with a second fan which draws fresh air into the drying chamber
and discharges air to the outside of the dryer. The heated air
is recirculated in the drying chamber to increase its moisture
content so that the dryer has effective, energy-efficient
characteristics. Filters, such as charcoal filters, located
adjacent air inlets and outlets, remave airborne odors and
particulates from the air moving into and out of the dryer.
The dryer is equipped with a boot dryer, located within
the drying chamber. The boot dryer has at least one additional
fan that draws air from the drying chamber and discharges the air
through tubular members extended into mittens, gloves or
footwear, including boots and shoes. The additional fans also
recirculate the air in the drying chamber. Ultraviolet lights
located in the chamber are used to decontaminate the air.
The dryer is adapted to accommodate damp and wet
articles of clothing, hunting and sporting equigment including
boots, shoes and socks and efficiently and effectively drying
these articles.
J
- 3 -
The dryer has a generally upright housing having an internal
drying chamber for accommodating the articles to be dried. A
pair of doors, hinged to the front of the housing, can be moved
to open positions to permit access into the drying chamber so
that the articles can be conveniently placed in the drying
chamber. The doors are pivoted to their closed positions to
enclose the drying chamber. The dryer can have a single door.
The drying chamber has a generally horizontal ceiling, which
forms with the top wall of the housing arid air mixing chamber.
Separate portions of the ceiling are provided with openings to
allow air to flow from the air mixing chamber into the drying
chamber and out of the drying chamber back into the air mixing
chamber. An air heater, located in the air mixing chamber, is
used to heat air that is supplied to the drying chamber. The
heater can be an electric heating coil, an infrared lamp or other
devices used to heat air. A first fan operated with an electric
motor is located in the air mixing chamber adjacent the heater.
The fan operates to move air from the mixing chamber into the
heater and hot air from the heater into the drying chamber. The
air is directed downwardly into the drying chamber where it
accumulates- meisture from the articles located within the
chamber. A second fan, located within the air mixing chamber,
operates to draw air from the drying chamber and outside air into
the drying chamber and discharge air into the environment outside
of the dryer through filters containing charcoal or material to
reduce odors from the air. The first and second fans operate
concurrently to continuously circulate and recirculate the air
in the drying chamber. The filters contain activated charcoal
-.
-
or materials which removes odors from the air flowing into and
out of the dryer. Ultraviolet light fixtures mounted on the
ceiling. emit UV light that sterilizes the air and articles
located within the drying chamber.
A casing, having an internal chamber, is located within
the drying chamber to dry mittens, gloves and boot wear,
including boots, shoes, skates, in-line roller blade-type skates,
socks and the like. A plurality of tubular pipes or members are
mounted on the casing and open to the internal chamber of the
casing to deliver air into the articles mounted on the tubes.
A pair of third fans mounted on the casing operate to move air
from the drying chamber through the internal chamber of the
casing and tubes to dry the articles thereon. A second
ultraviolet lamp, located within the internal chamber, directs
UV light through the tubes into the articles mounted thereon to
destroy bacteria, fungus, mildew and other contaminants present
in the air and article on the tube.
The heater and fans are controlled with' a plurality of
switches and a timer used to select the operating cycle of the
dryer. A coin-operated mechanism can be used to control the
timer. The control includes a switch connected to germicidal
ultraviolet lights located within the drying chamber for
sterilizing and decontaminating the air and articles within the
drying chamber. All of the fans are under the control of a
single switch so that the fans concurrently operate to move air
into and out of the drying chamber, as well as to recirculate the
air in the. drying chamber. The air discharged from the dryer has
a high moisture content resulting in high energy drying
~~U~~~~
- 5 -
efficiency.
The heated air source for the dryer can be a hot air
furnace or an external heating system. The exhaust air is
discharged into the return air ducts directly back into the room,
or to the outside of the room. The exhaust air can be directed
through a carbon filter back into the room containing the dryer.
A series of dryers can be connected to the central heating and
return air duct system or ducts and filters to direct air back
into the room.
A first modification of the dryer draws air into the
boots and discharges air through charcoal filters outside of the
bopt dryer. This dryer has a casing supporting a tray
for
collecting water, snow, and dirt and uprighttubes for
accommodating articles to dried. A fan within the casing
be
draws air into the tubes and discharges air through
charcoal
filters externally of the dryer. An ultravioletlamp within
boot
the casing emits W light through articles
the tubes into the on
the tubes. Mirrors associated with the tubes reflect Uir light
laterally into the articles.
A second modification of the dryer is used within a
room, such as a locker room, to remove moisture and odors from
the air in the room. The dryer has a dehumidifier having a first
.a
coil for cooling air and removing moisture from the air and a
second coil for heating the dried air. A blower draws cool air
~ 25 from the chamber having the first coil and discharges air through
the second coil and a charcoal filter into the roam having the
dryer. An ultraviolet light emits W light into the air leaving
the second coil to decontaminate the air and filter.
'-:',
A third modification of the dryer is a portable
structure useable in closets and rooms for drying and storing
articles. The dryer has flexible side, front and back walls that
surround a drying chamber. The walls fold down into a bottom
member to facilitate transport, handling.and storage of the
entire dryer. A top member attached to the walls has hooks that
fit over a horizontal support bar to locate the dryer in the
extended position of a closet or room. A motor-driven fan
mounted on a horizontal interior wall draws air through an air
inlet filter mounted on the top member and discharges air into
a duct extending to the bottom area of the drying chamber.. The
duct can be attached to a boot dryer supported on the bottom
member whereby air'is directed into the boot dryer. The boot
dryer has a plurality of upright tubes that direct air into the
drying chamber or articles mounted on the tubes.
A fourth modification of the dryer is a chest or foot
locker-type structure that is portable for use in and away from
home. Articles, such as sports gear, can be stored and dried in
the dryer. The dryer has a housing enclosing a drying chamber.
The housing is attached to wheels and a handle to facilitate
manual handling of the dryer. The top of the drying chamber is
closed with a cover hinged to the housing. The cover is movable
to an open position to allow access to the drying chamber. A
motor-driven fan located in an air mixing chamber draws air
through a heater and discharges hot air through a filter into the
drying chamber. Air porous walls within the drying chamber allow
air to flow from the drying chamber back to the air mixing
chamber for recirculation back into the drying chamber. The air
U
also flows out of the drying chamber through a filter, such as
an activated charcoal filter which removes odors from the air.
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING
Figure 1 is a perspective view of the dryer of the
invention;
Figure 2 is a rear elevational view thereof;
i
i Figure 3 is an elevational view of the inside
of the
v doors of the dryerof Figure 1;
Figure 4 is an enlarged front elevational view
i of the
dryer taken along theline 4-4 of Figure 1;
Figure 5 is a sectional view taken along the line
5-5
of Figure 4;
5
Figure 6 is an enlarged sectional view taken slang the
v' line 6-6 of Figure 4;
i;~
.n
?~ 15 Figure 7 is a sectional view taken along the line 7-7
of Figure 4;
Figure 8 is an electrical circuit diagram for the
heater, fans and lights of the dryer of Figure 1.
Figure 9 is a front elevational view of a modification
'20 of the boat dryer;
.., Figure 10 is a top plan view of Figure 9;
Figure 11 is a sectional view taken along the line 11-
11 of Figure 10;
~,
,,
Figure 12 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the
25 line 12-12 of Figure 11;
Figure 13 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the
Wine 12-12 of Figure 10;
. . ....., .. . .
i
-
V
Figure 14 is a sectional
view similar
to Figure
6,
showin g a modification of the dryer Figures 1 - 8.
of
Figure 15 is
a
front
elevational
view
of
a
modification
of the dryer of invention a room, such as a locker
iy the located
in
yi
room, to dry equipment and air in locker room and reduce
the
odors therein;
Figure 16 is a top plan of Figure 15;
view
Figure 17 is a sectional taken along the line
view 17-
i- 17 of Figure 16;
;10 Figure 18 is a sectional taken along the line
view 18-
18 of Figure 17;
Figure 19 is a sectional taken along the line
view 19-
19 of Figure 16;
Figure 20 is a front elevational view of a third
~' modification of dryer of ttae invention;
the
~i'~ Figure 21 is a side elevational view of Figure
20;
Figure 22 is an enlarged foreshortened sectional
view
~,.
s~ taken along the
line 22-22 of Figure
20;
f,
,.,,
Figure 23 is a side elevational view of a fourth
modification of dryer of the invention;
the
ra
.
;
; Figure 24 is an end elevatioa~al view of the air
inlet
,,,
. end of the dryer Figure 23;
of
Figure 25 is an end elevational view of the air
outlet
end of the dryer Figure 24; and
of
Figure 26 is an enlarged sectional view taken along
s the
line 26-26 of Figure
23.
f:,a
d
,~~ DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED
EMEODIMENTS
,,
°~!j Referring to Figures 1 and 2, there is shown the
y
a ... ii eJ ~ el w
-
armoire or dryer of the invention indicated generally at 10.
Dryer 10 is a self-contained structure useable to dry articles
and objects including, but not limited to, athletic equipment;
such as hockey and baseball equipment, shoes, skates, in-line
roller blade-type skates, hand and footwear, boots, socks,
recreational and sports clothing and outdoor wear, sweaters,
stockinc~s.and shirts that at times accumulate body perspiration
or .fluids, and become damp and wet in inclement weather or wet
during laundry cleaning. The term °'articles", as used herein,
inoludes, but is not limited to, clothing, athletic equipment and
outdoor wear and includes other products and objects that can be
dried.
Dryer 10 has a generally rectangular cabinet or housing
11, including upright side walls 12 and 13, joined to an upright
back wall 14. A horizontal top wall 16 closes the top of the
housing. The front of the housing has a lotaer front panel 17
located below a pair of doors 18 and 19. As seen in Figure 3,
hinges 26 and 27 pivotally mount doors 18 and 19 on side walls
12 and 13 so that the doors can be swung to open positions, as
indicated by arrows 23 and 24 to provide full access to the
interior of.housing 11. Handles or knobs 21 and 22, attached to
doors 18 and 19 respectively, are used as convenient hand grips
to allow doors 18 and 19 to be opened and closed.
As seen in Figure 3, peg boards 28 and 29 are secured
to the inside surfaces of doors 18 and 19. Boards 28 and 29 can
facilitate hooks and wire basket members for accommodating
articles such as items of clothing and other objects to be dried.
Other structures, such as walls with grooves, can be used to
- 10 -
support articles within the drying chamber 41 of housing 11. For
example, shelves can be used for flat drying of sweaters, shirts
and 'other garments.
Referring to Figure 2, the upper part of back wall 14
carries three filters 31, 32 and 33. The air filters are fiber
and activated charcoal air filters that can be replaced. The
charcoal air filters function to remove odors and particulates
from air flowing into and out of the dryer. Other types of
filters can be used to clean the air and remove odors from the
air flowing into and out of the dryer. A plurality of clips or
holders 34 attach filters 31, 32 and 33 to back wall 14. An
electrical cord 36 extends through back wall 14 below filters 32
and 33. Cord 36 is connected to a ground fault circuit breaker
100, shown in Figure 8.
As seen in Figure 4, a bottom wall or floor 37 is
attached to lower portions of side walls 12 and 13 and back wall
14. Bottom wall 37 has a large central opening 38 accommodating
a drip pan 39. Drip pan 39 has an open top to accommodate any
water, ice or snow that is derived from the articles to be dried
within housing 11. The articles are located within a drying
chamber, indicated generally at 41, located above drip pan 39.
The upper part of housing 11 has a ceiling or transverse wall 42
located below an air mixing chamber 43, as seen in Figure 6.
:.:,
The inside of back wall 14 accommodates a generally
rectangular peg board 44 and a lower peg board 46. Boards 44 and
46 can be a single peg board. peg boards 47 and 48 are secured
to the insides of side walls 12 and 13. Generally hari.zontal
- 11 -
shelves 49 and 53, located within chamber 41, are supported on
clips 51, 52, 54 and 56 at selected heights. Figure 4 shows
additional clips 57 and 58 that support shelves 49 and 53 on peg
board 48. Additional support structures or clips can be used to
support shelves, hooks and other structures for supporting the
articles within chamber 41.
A pair of germicidal ultraviolet light fixtures 59 and
61 are located in the upper corners of drying chamber 41.
Fixtures 59 and 61 are attached to opposite sides of the lower
I, 10 side of transverse wall 42. The ultraviolet light emitted from
fixtures 59 and 61 functions to sterilize or decontaminate the
air within chamber 41 and limit mold, fungus, virus, mildew, dry
rot and bacterial growth on the articles to be dried.
The center of transverse wall 42 supports a light 62
and air grills 63 and 64, allowing air to circulate between
drying chamber 41 and mixing chamber 43. Back wall 14, as seen
in Figure 4, has a plurality of holes or openings 66, 67, 68 and
69 open to filters 31, 32 and 33 to allow outside air to flow
into~the upper portion of drying chamber 41. A single opening
in back wall 14 can be used in lieu of openings 66 - 69. A
motor-driven fan (not shown) can be mounted on back wall l4.to
force additional outside air into drying chamber 41. Arrows 71
indicate the flow of air into chamber 41. Openings 66 - 69 allow
outside air to flow into drying chamber 41 so that the dryer
'.'l 25 breathes when used for storage.
A front panel 72 closes the front portian of mixing
chamber 43, Panel 72 supports a timer 103 and switches 104, 105
and 106 for controlling heater 73, ultraviolet lamps 59, 61 and
i .I i iA.iil.i .. 1.411..iA.i o I
CA 02109292 2004-09-20
' - 12 -
95 and the circulation of air in drying chamber 41 and air mixing
chamber 43. A coin-operated mechanism (not shown) can be used
to operate timer 103.
As seen in Figure 6, a first fan or blower 74,
having a squirrel-cage impeller driven with an electric
motor, operates to deliver air through heater 73 and into
drying chamber 41, as indicated by arrows 76. Heater 73 is
shown as an electric resistance coil located between fan 74
and air grill 63. Other types of heaters including infrared
l0 light and electronic heaters can be used to heat air directed
into drying chamber 41. Fan 74 and heater 73 can be a single
device mounted on interior wall 42. A second exhaust fan 77,
having a squirrel-cage impeller driven with an electric motor,
operates to draw air from drying chamber 41 and discharge the
air from the drying chamber 41 and mixing chamber 43
toward charcoal air filters 31, 32 and 33 for discharge into
the atmosphere, as indicated by arrows 78. A single electric
motor can be used to drive fans 74.and 77. As shown in Figure
7, outside air is drawn through the lower portions of air
2o filters 31, 32 and 33 to make up for the air that is discharged
through air filters 31, 32, and 33 by the operation of fan 77.
Separate activated carbon filters can be used to cover
holes 66 - 69. Fan 77 draws air from drying chamber 41
through air grill 64 and draws fresh, external air through air
filters 31, 32 and 33 and holes 66 - 69. This air is mixed with
air from drying chamber 41 in mixing chamber 43 and is
discharged through heater 73 and air grill 63 into the top of
drying chamber 41. The hot air from drying chamber 41 heats up
the cool, fresh air thereby reducing the amount of heat energy
required by heater 73 to heat the air being forced into drying
chamber 41 by fan 74.
DOCSOTT: 345862\1
,r
- 13
As seen in Figures 4 and 6, a second drying unit termed
a boot dryer, indicated generally at 79, is located in the lower
portion of drying chamber 41 adjacent back wall 14. Boot dryer
79 has a housing or casing 81 that is attached with fasteners 83,
such as bolts, to back wall 14. Boot dryer 79 can be positioned
at a selected elevation relative to back wall 14, as desired by
the user of the dryer. Casing 81 has an internal chamber 82 that
is open to a plurality of upright tubes 84, 86, 87 and 88.
Sleeves with tightening nuts 89 , 91, 92 and 93, secured to the
top wall of casing 81, accommodate lower ends of tubes 84, 86,
87 and 88 so that the tubes can be removed and replaced with
tubes having shapes that accommodate different types of mittens,
gloves, boots, shoes, skates and the like. The sleeves
associated with nuts 89, 91, 92 and 93 allow for vertical
adjustment and circumferential positioning of tubes 84, 86, 87
and 88 to accommodate different types and sizes of articles.
Figure 4 shows tubes having different shapes and elevations that
can be selectively attached to casing 81. An ultraviolet lamp
95 within casing 81 emits light to the casing and through tubes
84 and 86 - 88 to destroy contaminants in the air and articles
located on the tines. Mirrors, as shown in. Figure 13, reflect
the W light into the articles on the tubes. The front wall of
casing 81 accommodates a pair of third and fourth fans or blowers
94 and 96 having blades rotated with electric motors to draw air
,_
w 25 from drying chamber 41 into boot dryer chamber 82 which is then
forced through tubes 84, 86, 87 and 88 into the boots or like
objects that are mounted on the tubes. Fans 94 and 96 also
a ,
operate to discharge air laterally through tubes 97 and 98 into
- 14 -
the lower portions of drying chamber 41, as indicated by
arrows 99 in Figure 6, to increase air circulation within the
lower portion of drying chamber 41. A single fan can be used in
lieu of fans 94 and 96. The direction of rotation of the fan
blades associated with fans 94 and 96 can be reversed so that the
air is drawn into tubes 84, 86, 87 and 88 and discharged into
drying chamber 41.
Referring to Figure 8, there is shown the electrical
circuit diagram for heater 73, fans 74, 77, 94 and 96 and lights
59, 61 and 62 of dryer 10. A door-operated switch 101 functions
to connect light 62 with the power source connected to ground
fault circuit breaker 100 when door 18 is open. Switch 101 is
normally closed when door 18 is open so that light 62 is ON when
r
the articles are placed in drying chamber 41. When door 18 is
closed, switch 101 is open, thereby turning light 62 OFF. Timer
103 is directly connected to three switches 104, 105 and 106.
:r
Switch 104 is operable to connect the power to heater 73. Switch
105 is operable to connect the power to all of the fans 74, 77,
94 and 96 so that the fans simultaneously operate to circulate
a 20 and recirculate the air in the drying chamber and concurrently
mix the air from the drying chamber with outside air in mixing
chamber 43. Fans 94 and 96 also operate to move the air through
the boot dryer as they draw air from the lower portion of the
drying chamber.
Switch 106 is electrically connected to ultraviolet
lights 59 and 61. A door-operated switch 102 is interposed in
the line between switch 106 and lights 59 and 61. Switch 102 is
~1~~~~~
- 15 -
normally closed when door 18 is closed. When door 18 is open,
the switch is opened so that ultraviolet lights 59, 62 and 95 are
OFF when door 18 is open.
The electrical circuit includes an adjustable
humidistat .107 that senses the humidity of the air in drying
chamber 41. When the humidity in the drying chamber 41 is below
a selected limit, switch 107 will automatically open and thereby
i''' terminate the power to the timer and shut the entire system OFF.
The electrical circuit also includes an adjustable thermostat 108
which is normally closed. When the temperature of the air
within drying chamber 41 exceeds a pre-determined limit,
thermostat 108 will open and thereby terminate the power to
heater 73. The fans and ultraviolet lights remain ON. When the
temperature in drying chamber 41 drops below a selected. point,
heater 73 is turned ON. Thermostat 108 is adjustable to change
the upper and lower limits of the air temperature within drying
chamber 41.
In use, doors 18 and 19 are moved to open positions to
provide access to drying chamber 41. The articles, such as
clothing, shoes and the like are placed within drying chamber 41
on suitable trays or hangers. The boots, shoes, skates and socks
are placed over tubes 84, 86, 87 and 88 so that they can receive
the air flowing through the tubes. Ultraviolet lights 59, 61 and
95 are OFF, as loor-operated switch 102 is open or timer 103 is
OFF. Light: 62 is ON as door-operated switch 101 is closed when
~.. 13 is open. Switches 104, 105 and 106 are turned to the ON
;.;,
'1 ~ position. Timer 103 is then set to a selected time, such as 30
minutes, to provide a definite drying duration. When switch 104
,i ~i,ii ~ ..ICI"I,~~~i,.. i
CA 02109292 2004-09-20
- 16 -
is closed, heater 73 operates to heat the air flowing through the
heater. Switch 105, when closed, operates all of fans 74, 77,
94 and 96. Fan 74 drives the air from mixing chamber 43 through
heater 73 and to the upper portion of drying chamber 41. Fan 77
draws air from drying chamber 41 and discharges the air through
filter 32 into the atmosphere. Part of the air drawn through air
grill 64 flows into fan 74 and is recirculated in drying chamber
41. Outside air is also drawn through filters 31, 32 and 33, as
seen in Figure 7, and mixed with the air from drying chamber 41.
This air is moved by fan 77 through heater 73 into drying chamber
41. Fans 94 and 96 operate to move air from the lower portion
of the drying chambers through the boot dryer into tubes 84 - 88
that accommodate the shoes, skates, boots and the like that are
mounted thereon. The air flowing through the boots, skates,
shoes and the like pick up moisture from the insides of these
goods to facilitate the internal drying thereof. The W light
from ultraviolet lamp 95 destroys contaminants in the air and
articles mounted on tubes 84 -88. Fans 94 and 96 also
recirculate air to the lower portion of drying chamber 41 through
lateral tubes 97 and 98, as seen in Figure 4. When switch 106
is closed, ultraviolet lights 59, 61 and 95 are ON. Subjecting
the air and articles within the chamber and retained on tubes 84,
86, 87 and 88 to ultraviolet light has a decontamination effect
thereon. When the humidity of the air in the drying chamber
drops below a selected value, humidistat 107 will turn the
system OFF. Thermostat 108 will turn heater 73 OFF when the
temperature of the air exceeds a pre-determined value and turns
CA 02109292 2004-09-20
- 17 -
heater 73 ON when the air temperature drops below a set point.
Thus, the dryer will not over-dry the articles located in drying
chamber 41 nor will the temperature of the air within the drying
chamber exceed a selected value, as determined by the thermostat.
Referring to Figures 9 - 13, there is shown a
modification of the boot dryer, indicated generally at 200,
useable with dryer 11 or independently_of the dryer. Boot dryer
200 can replace boot dryer 79 located within drying chamber 41.
Dryer 200 is used to remove moisture and odors from shoes,
skates, boots, in-line roller blade-type skates, socks, gloves,
mittens and other
hand and footwear.
Dryer 200 has a generally rectangular casing 201
enclosing an internal chamber 202. A drip pan or tray 203 is
located on top of casing 201 to collect any water, snow, ice, mud
or the like that may fall from the articles being dried. Tray
203 is generally pan-shaped with four laterally located upright
bosses 204 and a peripheral outer upright side wall 205. Upright
tubes 206, 207, 208 and 209 extend through tubular bosses 204
down into chamber 202. As seen in Figure 12, split clamp collar
211, located about tube 206, is retained thereon with bolt 212.
The collar allows tube 206 to be vertically adjusted. Tube 206
can also be circumferentially located to accommodate different
types and styles of articles to be placed thereon. Other types
of holding structures can be used to retain tube 206 on casing
201.. Tube 206 has an upright continuous passage 213 to allow air
to flow through tube 206 into chamber 202. The upper end of tube
206 has a biased or angled end 214, as shown in Figure 13, and
~I~~<'''J~
- 18 -
accommodates a convex mirror 216 or fisheye mirror. Block 217,
attached to tube 206 with bolt 218, supports mirror 216 at a
angle of about 45 degrees with respect to the longitudinal axis
of passage 213. Other structures, such as a wire cage, can be
used to support mirror 216 in alignment with tube 206. The cage
also functions to hold boots, shoes, socks and mittens open
during drying. As seen in Figure 11, an ultraviolet lamp 219,
located within chamber 202, is axially aligned with passage 213.
Lamp 219 emits ultraviolet light 221 into chamber 202. A portion
of the ultraviolet light is reflected laterally by mirror 216,
as shown in broken lines in Figure 13 into the interior of the
article mounted on tube 206. Thus, the ultraviolet light is
," directed to the toe and heel sections of the boot, socks or the
like that are placed on tube 206. The ultraviolet light has a
germicidal and disinfectant effect on contaminants including
bacteria, spores, fungus, viruses and the like that may be
present in the article located on tube 206 and the air flowing
therethrough. Tubes 207, 208 and 209 have the same structure as
tube 206 and mirror 216. Dryer 200 can have one or more tubes
having shapes to accommodate the articles to be mounted thereon.
Air is drawn into chamber 202 with fan 222, operated
with electric motor 223. Support or stand 224 locates fan 222
in alignment with an opening in casing 201 covered with filter
226, such as an activated charcoal filter. A plurality of
fasteners 227, as seen in Figure 9, secures filter 226 to casing
201. A second filter, such as an activated carbon filter 228,
is located on casing 201 and attached thereto with fasteners 229.
Filter 228 covers an opening in casing 201 open to chamber 202.
- 19 -
A second fan driven by a motor (not shown) is located behind
filter 228 to move air from chamber 202 through filter 228. An
example of this fan and motor is fan 222 and motor 223, as shown
in Figure 11. Other types of structures, such as blowers,
impellers and the like, driven by motors, can be used to move air
from chamber 202 through filters 226 and 228.
Returning to Figure 9, timer 234 is mounted on the
center portion of casing 201 between filters 226 and 228. Timer
23~k is used to set the interval of time on the operation of the
fans 222 that move the air from chamber 202 and filters 226 and
228. The incoming air is indicated by arrows 232 and 233 moves
into the articles, such as a boot, shoe or the like to be dried
j and through tube passage 213 into chamber 202. The external air
a indicated by arrow 232 can be heated with a heating coil (not
i
shown) located within a hood (not shown) surrounding tubes 206 -
209 and articles mounted thereon. Other types of heating
structures can be used to heat the air used to dry articles
mounted on the tubes. A heater can be located within chamber 202
when fan 222 moves air out of tubes 206 - 209 and articles
mounted thereon. This air picks up the moisture, as well as the
odors from the article that is being dried. The air moving
through filters 226 and 228, which contain activated charcoal or
like materials that retain or dissipate the odors, removes the
odors from the air which is discharged into the outside of the
,~ 25 dryer as indicated by arrow 231 in Figure 11. The motors 223 for
ri the fans are connected to an electrical power source via switches
p9
236 and 237. Switches 236'and 237 can be simultaneously turned
ON or individually turned ON to control the flaw of air through
CA 02109292 2004-09-20
- 20 -
tubes 206 - 209 into chamber 202 and through filters 226 and 228.
When dryer 200 is used with dryer 11, motors 223 for
fans 222, can be directly connected to switch 105 so that the
exhaust and recirculating fans 74 and 77 operate concurrently
with boot dryer motors 223.
Referring to Figure 14, there is shown a dryer of the
invention, indicated generally at 300, used with the central
heating system of a building to dry articles of clothing,
sporting equipment, athletic equipment and the like. Dryer 300
can be used with additional identical dryers in a locker room
environment to dry the sports and recreational equipment used by
persons, players, coaches, referees and the like. Dryer 300 has
the same structure as the dryer shown in Figures 1 - 8. The
common structure has the same reference numbers with the prefix
"3". The heat source is the structure's heater or furnace,
illustrated as heater 373 that accommodates incoming air. Other
sources of heat can be used to supply hot air to dryer 300 or a
group of dryers. The air is drawn through heater 373 with a fan,
blower or impeller 375 that is driven with an electric motor (not
shown). The air moved by blower 375 moves into the drying
chamber 341, as indicated by arrow 371. Impeller 375 can be used
to supply air through suitable ducts to additional dryers.
Exhaust fan 377 delivers air through duct 380 which can lead to
an exhaust fan or external atmosphere. Duct system 380 can be
returned back to heater 373, as is commonly used in a forced-air
furnace system of a home. The hot air, indicated by arrow 371,
moves through drying chamber 341 and moves up into mixing chamber
343. Recirculating fan 374 delivers air from mixing chamber 343
- 21 °
back into drying chamber 341. The air is recirculated in the
drying chamber to accumulate additional moisture, thereby
providing effective heat energy and drying conditions. Part of
the air from drying chamber 342 is moved with exhaust fan 377 to
exhaust duct 380, as shown by arrow 378. Duct 380 is connected
to a short tube having a back flow damper 385 to prevent flow of
air from duct 380 back into fan 377. Duct 380 can be part of the
return air system of a hot forced-air furnace or connected to
tubing to direct exhaust air to the outside environment. Duct
':~- 10 380 can be connected to conduits having filters, such as carbon
filters, to direct air back into the room accommodating dryer
300.
Referring to Figures 15 - 19, there is shown a
modification of the dryer of the invention, indicated generally
at 400, located in an enclosed room, such as a locker room
including, but not limited to, recreational and athletic locker
rooms and industrial locker rooms. The dxyer operates to remove
moisture and odors from the air in the locker room thereby drying
equipment fixtures and structures in the locker room.
:? Dryer 400 has a generally rectangular
housing,
~x
.
,
;;
indicated generally at 402. Housing hasupright side walls
402
' 403 and 404 joined to upright back 405.
~ wall The
~.,,i top
of
the
~
,
housing is closed with top wall 406. wall 407 is joined
Bottom
r, to lower portions of side walls 403 404and back wall
and 405.
~:' An internal generally horizontal wall located inside
408 is the
Via,; housing. Wall 408 divides the interiorof the housing into
a
first or lower chamber 409 and a secondor upper chamber
411.
The front of the housing accommodates upright air filter 412.
CA 02109292 2004-09-20
- 22 -
Air filter 412, such as a fabric or glass fiber filter,
removes particulates from the air moving into first chamber
409. Filter 412 can be an activated carbon filter to remove
odors from the air, as well as particulates. A second
filter 413 is located across the outlet of the second
chamber 411. Filter 413 is an activated carbon filter that
removes odors from the air that is discharged into room 401,
as indicated by arrows 434. As seen in Figure 17, filter 413
is a generally rectangular carbon filter that can be removed
from housing 402 and replaced with a new filter.
The front of housing 402 is closed with a
generally rectangular screen door 414. Hinges 416, 417
pivotally mount the door on side wall 403. The screen of door
414 protects filters 412 and 413 from damage and provides
the dryer with an ornamental appearance.
Referring to Figure 19, a dehumidifier system,
indicated generally at 418, is located within housing 402.
Dehumidifier system 418 has a first or cooling coil 419,
located in chamber 409. Coil 419 is coupled to compressor
421, driven by electric motor 422. The compressor and motor
can be a single refrigeration- combined compressor and motor.
A second heating coil 423 is located in chamber 411
rearwardly of filter 413. Line or tube 424 connects coils
419 and 423 to complete the refrigeration system of
dehumidifier 418. Fan 426, driven by electric motor 427, is
located adjacent first coil 419. Fan 426 operates to draw air
from room 401, as indicated by arrows 428 into chamber 409.
The air flows through coil 419, thereby cooling the air.
The moisture, including water from coil 419,
DOCSOTT: 345862\I
<~1~~?~~
- 23 -
drips down into pan 441 and flows through tube 442 to a selected
location, such as the water drain for room 401. An ultraviolet
i
light fixture (not shown) can be located within chamber 409 to
decontaminate the structure and air therein.
Blower 429, located within a squirrel-type housing 431,
,,
having a passage 433 open to the second chamber 411, draws air,
i
as indicated by arrows 430 from chamber 409 and discharges the
air into chamber 411. The air flows through heating coil 423 and
filter 413 into the room, as indicated by arrows 434. As the air
J
~! to passes through coil f23, it picks up heat from coil 423 whereby
heated air is discharged into room 401.
Ultraviolet lamp 436 is mounted on top wall 406 between
filter 413 and coil 423. The ultraviolet light from lamp 436
neutralizes contaminants including bacteria in the air flowing
~~,15 through chamber 411 that may accumulate on filter 413 and coil
f
s ~ 423.
Lr Top wall 406 of the housing supports control switch 437
and other controls, such as a timer (not shown), for operating
motors 422 and 427, the motor driving impeller 432 and
20' ultraviolet light 436. Cover 438 encloses cantrol switches 437.
t
Cover 438 is pivotally mounted on top wall 406 with a pair of
hinges 439, as seen in Figure 16. Top wall 406 also supports a
pair of upright tubes 446 and 447 having passages open to chamber
411 and room 401. Boots, shoes, gloves, socks and like hand and
r~ 25 foot wear can be placed over tubes 446 and 447 whereby they are
a='= subjected to flowing air to remove moisture and odors.
Ultraviolet lamp fixture 443 a.s mounted on the ceiling
or walls of room 401. The light emitted from the ultraviolet
CA 02109292 2004-09-20
- 24 -
lamp fixture controls the propagation of odor-causing bacterial
growth on equipment, benches, floors, walls and in like places.
The ultraviolet light will also kill bacteria in the air. The
ultraviolet lamp fixture is adapted to be turned ON during the
hours that room 401 is not in use. Motion sensors 444 operate
to automatically shut OFF the ultraviolet light fixture if there
is any movement, such as the movement of a person in room 401.
Dryer 400 operates to recirculate and regenerate the
air in the locker room with a minimum of heat loss to the outside
l0 of the room. The dryer also reduces the humidity of the air and
odors normally associated with locker rooms. The ultraviolet
lights have a sanitizing effect on the air and equipment in the
locker room.
Dryer 300, shown in Figure 14, can be used in
conjunction with dryer 400 to direct air back into the room. Air
discharged by dryer 300 is directed into chamber 409 of dryer
400. The air flowing through dryer 400 removes moisture and
odors from air discharged back into the room.
Referring to Figures 20 - 22, there is shown another
modification of the dryer of the invention, indicated generally
at 500. The dryer 500 is a portable and collapsible structure
useable in rooms, such as hotel and motel rooms, for drying and
storing articles of clothing, athletic equipment, sports gear and
the like.
Dryer 500 has a housing 501 comprising upright side
wall 502, front wall 503 and back wall 509. The side wall, front
wall and back wall are made of flexible material, such as fabric,
plastic or canvas. As seen in Figure 20, front wall 503 has a
~~~~~~2
- 25 °
central vertical zipper 504 and horizontal upper and lower
zippers 506 and 507. Zippers 504, 506 and 507 allow the user
access to interior drying chamber 508 of housing 501. The upper
portion of drying chamber 508 accommodates horizontal rod or bar
510 used to hang up clothing and articles in drying chamber 508.
Opposite ends of rod 510 are anchored to top member 514. The
bottom of housing 501 is closed with bottom member 511. Bottom
member 511 has a generally pan shape with upright peripheral
flange 512 forming an upwardly open pocket or recess 513 to
accommodate downwardly directed flanges or lips 518 of top member
514. Top member 514 can be moved doranwardly and attached to
bottom member 511 with a plurality of hooks or latches 519 and
521 that cooperate with clips 522 and 523. The side wall, back
wall and front wall, being made of collapsible and flexible
,3
ii 15 material, will fold down into bottom member 511.
2 0
As seen in Figures 20 and 21, top member 514 supports
a pair of downwardly open hooks 516 and 517. Hooks 516 and 517
permit the dryer to be mounted on a horizontal rod or bar that
is conventionally located in a closet. Other types of hanger
structures can be used to connect top member 514 to a support.
Top member 514 supports air inlet filter 52'4, which
allows air, as indicated by arrows 543, to flow into housing 501.
The opposite side of top member 514 supports air outlet filter
526 that allows air to flow externally of dryer 500, as indicated
:1
~,~,25 by arrows 545. Filters 524 and 526 can contain activated
charcoal or other material that remove odors from the air passing
through the filters. The lower portion of top member 514
supports a horizontal interior wall 527 having an air opening 528
- 26 -
that allows air to flow from drying chamber 508 into air mixing
chamber 529. Air outlet filter 526 is in communication with air
mixing chamber 529. A generally central vertical wall 531 is
located in air mixing chamber 529. Wall 531 has opening 532 that
directs air to heater 533. Heater 533 can be an electrical coil
heater, infrared light or other type of device that heats air.
Fan 534, driven with electric motor 536, is located adjacent
heater 533 to move air through heater 533 and into tube 537
leading to a flexible elongated duct 538. As seen in Figure 22,
'10 duct 538 extends downwardly adjacent back wall 509 to a boot
dryer, indicated generally at 539. Duct 538 can be used to
discharge ai.r into drying chamber 508. Boot dryer 539 is located
within bottom member 511 and accommodates boots, mittens, shoes,
socks and like hand .and foot wear. Boot dryer 539 has an
elongated manifold 541 supporting a plurality of upright tubes
'i 542. Controls (not shown), including swatches and a timer, are
1 used to connect the fan motor to electric power.
In use, outside air, indicated by arrows 543, is drawn
through filter 524 by the operation of fan 534. Fan 534 moves
air from mixing chamber 529 into discharge tube 537 connected to
duct 538. Air flows downwardly through dust 538 into manifold
5f1 of boot dryer 539. Tubes 542 direct the air upwardly into
"' drying chamber 508. The air flows through drying chamber 508,
'i
as indicated by arrows 544, and into mixing chamber 529 where
:~:~
,~ 25 part of the air is discharged through the filter to the
atmosphere. Another part of the air is drawn through inlet
opening 532 adjacent heater 533 and recirculated in the drying
chamber. The articles supported on rod 510 are dried by the air
- 27 -
moving through drying chamber 508.
Referring to Figures 23 - 26, there is shown a fourth
modification of the dryer of the invention, indicated generally
at 600. Dryer 600 is a movable and portable structure useable
to dry and store articles, such as clothing, athletic equipment
and recreational products.
Dryer 600 has a box-shaped housing or chest, indicated
generally at 601, comprising upright side walls 602 and 603
joined to air inlet end wall 604 and air outlet end wall 606.
Walls 602, 603, 604 and 606 are joined to a generally flat bottom
wall 607 to enclose drying chamber 608, as seen in Figure 26.
Walls 602 - .604, 606 and 607 can be rigid structures made of
a wood, plastic or paper materials. Flexible plastic, fabrics or
canvas.can be used for walls 602 - 604, 606 and 607. The top of
;x:15 drying chamber 608 is, closed with a top member or cover,
indicated generally at 609. Handle 611, attached to cover 609,
can be used to open the cover and/or transport the dryer. Other
handles and straps can be used to conveniently carry the dryer.
~i Hinges 612 pivotally connect cover 609 to side wall 602. The
'~! 20 opposite side of cover 609 accommodates latches 613 that secure
>F,
cover 609 to side wall 603.
>'n
'vl Housing 601 is connected to a movable carriage
comprising a pair of wheels.614 and 616 rotatably mounted on the
outlet end of housing'601. An elongated handle 617, attached to
,,
i~ 25 bottom wall 607, serves as a hand grip to facilitate the moving
of drying 600 on a floor or surface 618. Handle 617 can be
provided with extendible and retractable structures (not shown).
Handle 617 can be a rigid one-piece structure attached to bottom
~~~~I~~
- 28 -
wall 607.
As seen in Figures 25 and 26, end wall 606 has a
central generally rectangular grill 619 which allows the in flow
of air, indicated by arrows 620, into drying chamber 608. The
air flows through grill 619 into mixing chamber 621, separated
j from drying chamber 608 with transverse wall 622. Filter 623,
such as a charcoal filter, is mounted on wall 622 so that the air
moving from mixing chamber 621 flows through filter 623, as
indicated by arrows 627, into drying chamber 608. The air is
i 10 moved with fan 624, driven by electric motor 626. Fan 624 can
be a blade-type fan ar an impeller fan that is operated to
provide a continuous supply of air to drying chamber 608. Heater
628 is interposed between grill 619 and fan 624 to heat the air
moving into fin 624 through filter 623 and into drying chamber
,; .
i~ 15 608. The air in drying chamber 608 flows thxough exit or exhaust
filter 629, mounted in the mid- portion of air outlet walls 606.
Filter 629 is preferably a charcoal filter or a filter that
removes odors from the air discharged into the atmosphere.
Peg boards, or walls having holes 631 and 632, are
,~ 20 located adjacent opposite sides of drying chamber 608. Wall 631
is located inwardly from side wall 602 to farm a passage 633 to
~:i
allow air to flow from drying chamber 608 back to mixing chamber
621. Peg board 632 is located inwardly from side wall 603
forming passage 634 to allow air to flow from drying chamber 608
25 into mixing chamber 621. The air in mixing chamber 621 is drawn
by fan 624 back into drying chamber 608 thereby recirculating air
from drying chamber 608 through mixing chamber 621 back into
drying chamber 608. The recirculation of the air increases the
CA 02109292 2004-09-20
- 29 -
moisture content of the air and improves the drying effectiveness
and heat conservation efficient. Part of the air in drying
chamber 608 is recirculated back to mixing chamber 621. The
remaining portion of the air is directed through filter 629 into
the atmosphere, as indicated by arrows 643.
Electric motor 626 and heater coil 628 are electrically
connected to switch 634 mounted on end wall 604. As seen in
Figure 24, an electrical plug receptacle 636 is mounted on end
wall 604 below switch 634. The controls for motor 626 and heater
628 can include a timer and thermostat (not shown), as disclosed
by timer 103 and thermostat 108, as shown in Figure 8.
While there has been shown and described preferred
embodiments of the dryer of the invention, it is understood that
changes in the structure and arrangement of structure can be made
by those skilled in the art without departing from the invention.
Changes in the locations, types and number of fans, heaters and
ultraviolet lights and use of dehumidifiers in the dryers can be
made by one skilled in the art which are equivalent to the
claimed structure. The dryer can be vented to the outdoor
environment with suitable ducts in lieu of exhaust filters. The
invention is defined in the following claims.
